<w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="safw%3Ds">σαφῶς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29pegnwkw%2Fs">ἐπεγνωκώς</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaio%5Cn">Ἀχαιὸν</w> <w lemma="diepe%2Fmpeto">διεπέμπετο</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29nateino%2Fmenos">ἀνατεινόμενος</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w> <w lemma="proei%3Dpon">προεῖπον</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Don">Πτολεμαῖον</w> <w lemma="paraskeuai%3Ds">παρασκευαῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flos">ὅλος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Ds">πᾶς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>.
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunaqroi%2Fsas">συναθροίσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apa%2Fmeian">Ἀπάμειαν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29arinh%5Cn">ἐαρινὴν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fran">ὥραν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fdwke">ἀνέδωκε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w> <w lemma="diabou%2Flion">διαβούλιον</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="xrhste%2Fon">χρηστέον</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Akoi%2Flhn">Κοίλην</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fan">Συρίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolai%3Ds">εἰσβολαῖς</w>.
<w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="r%28hqe%2Fntwn">ῥηθέντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3Ds">παρασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nautikh%5Cn">ναυτικὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="sunergei%2Fas">συνεργείας</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29apollofa%2Fnhs">Ἀπολλοφάνης</w>, <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpamen">εἴπαμεν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleukeu%2Fs">Σελευκεύς</w>, <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fteme">ἐπέτεμε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmas:">γνώμας·</w>
<w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fhqes">εὔηθες</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Akoi%2Flhs">Κοίλης</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fas">Συρίας</w> <w lemma="e%29piqumei%3Dn">ἐπιθυμεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fein">στρατεύειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w>, <w lemma="%2Aseleu%2Fkeian">Σελεύκειαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="periora%3Dn">περιορᾶν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%2Fou">Πτολεμαίου</w> <w lemma="kratoume%2Fnhn">κρατουμένην</w>, <w lemma="a%29rxhge%2Ftin">ἀρχηγέτιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsan">οὖσαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%28sti%2Fan">ἑστίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousan">ὑπάρχουσαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>.
<w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxu%2Fnhs">αἰσχύνης</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="peripoiei%3D">περιποιεῖ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fa%7C">βασιλείᾳ</w> <w lemma="frouroume%2Fnh">φρουρουμένη</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29gu%2Fptw%7C">Αἰγύπτῳ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fwn">βασιλέων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstas">μεγίστας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fstas">καλλίστας</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%2Fs">ἀφορμάς</w>.
<w lemma="kratoume%2Fnhn">κρατουμένην</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29xqrw%3Dn">ἐχθρῶν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgiston">μέγιστον</w> <w lemma="e%29mpo%2Fdion">ἐμπόδιον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs:">ἐπιβολάς·</w>
<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoh%2Fswsin">ἐπινοήσωσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="probai%2Fnein">προβαίνειν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttonos">ἐλάττονος</w> <w lemma="dei%3Dsqai">δεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="pronoi%2Fas">προνοίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fulakh%3Ds">φυλακῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fous">οἰκείους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbon">φόβον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3Ds">παρασκευῆς</w>.
<w lemma="krathqei%3Dsa%2Fn">κρατηθεῖσάν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffh">ἔφη</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="bebai%2Fws">βεβαίως</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fas">ἐπινοίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fseis">προθέσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="mega%2Fla">μεγάλα</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="sunergei%3Dn">συνεργεῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w>.
<w lemma="peisqe%2Fntwn">πεισθέντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnois">λεγομένοις</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fdoce">ἔδοξε</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fthn">πρώτην</w> <w lemma="e%29cairei%3Dn">ἐξαιρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin:">πόλιν·</w>
<w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleu%2Fkeian">Σελεύκειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxesqai">κατέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="frourai%3Ds">φρουραῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29gu%2Fptou">Αἰγύπτου</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fwn">βασιλέων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29erge%2Fthn">Εὐεργέτην</w> <w lemma="e%29piklhqe%2Fnta">ἐπικληθέντα</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Don">Πτολεμαῖον</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w>,
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnos">ἐκεῖνος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Abereni%2Fkhs">Βερενίκης</w> <w lemma="sumptw%2Fmata">συμπτώματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnhs">ἐκείνης</w> <w lemma="o%29rgh%5Cn">ὀργὴν</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fsas">στρατεύσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fan">Συρίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="e%29gkrath%5Cs">ἐγκρατὴς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>.
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<head>Seleucia</head>Every detail of these transactions was known to the king: who, while sending frequent threatening messages to Achaeus, was now concentrating all his efforts on the preparations for the war against Ptolemy.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note118">War with Ptolemy B. C. 219.</note>Having accordingly mustered his forces at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apameia&groupId=340&placeId=659">Apameia</a> just before spring, he summoned his friends to advise with him as to the invasion of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Coele-Syria&groupId=484&placeId=908">Coele-Syria</a>. After many suggestions had been made in respect to this undertaking, touching the nature of the country, the military preparation required, and the assistance to be rendered by the fleet,—Apollophanes of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a>, whom I mentioned before, put an abrupt end to all these suggestions by remarking that "it was folly to desire <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Coele-Syria&groupId=484&placeId=908">Coele-Syria</a> and to march against that, while they allowed <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a> to be held by Ptolemy, which was the capital, and so to speak, the very inner shrine of the king's realm.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note119">Apollophanes advises that they begin by taking <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a>.</note>Besides the disgrace to the kingdom which its occupation by the Egyptian monarchs involved, it was a position of the greatest practical importance, as a most admirable base of operations. Occupied by the enemy it was of the utmost hindrance to all the king's designs; for in whatever direction he might have it in his mind to move his forces, his own country, owing to the fear of danger from this place, would need as much care and precaution as the preparations against his foreign enemies. Once taken, on the<pb n="411" />other hand, not only would it perfectly secure the safety of the home district, but was also capable of rendering effective aid to the king's other designs and undertakings, whether by land or sea, owing to its commanding situation." His words carried conviction to the minds of all, and it was resolved that the capture of the town should be their first step. For <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a> was still held by a garrison for the Egyptian kings; and had been so since the time of Ptolemy Euergetes, who took it when he invaded <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syria&groupId=995&placeId=502">Syria</a> to revenge the murder of Berenice.
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Walbank Commentary